Open House (2010)

Very well executed

Absolutely Fantastic

There is, somehow, an interesting story here, as well as some good acting. There are also some good scenes

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

It would take a fair amount of skill to keep a very thin plot in a single location (in this instance a house) interesting over a period of 88 minutes. Watching this I found myself looking at the clock several times, wishing it would either step up a gear or simply end. The acting is fine & there are some pretty graphic kills, so it's by no means a bad movie. Just a bit slow and predictable.

Watch this if....you are interested in watching a sub-par "serial killer" film, which has very little explanation. If you like watching people being killed in a house with no motive then you might enjoy it.Acting/Casting: 5* - First off, don't be fooled by Moyer and Paquin on the cover because they don't see but about 15 minutes of screen time the whole film. The obvious is that they put in their small roles as a favor to Paquin's brother, Andrew, who wrote and directed the film. For the people that are actually in the film, they do an okay job. Geraghty oversold the psycho roll a bit, but wasn't terrible. Rachel Blanchard does a okay job as the captive divorcée. Tricia Helfer is an attractive specimen and does a nice job in the seductive murderer role.Directing/Cinematography/Technical: 4.5* - The movie is pigeon holed a bit because it takes place primarily in a house and therefore doesn't lend itself much to work with. There is no doubt it was made on a strict budget, which makes for a lackluster product in most cases without a really creative director and Andrew Paquin isn't that due to lack of experience (directorial debut) and/or creativity.Plot/Characters: 4.5* - Two siblings terrorize a recently divorced homeowner when they sneak in during an open house. Again, this is Andrew Paquin's first screenplay and it shows. The story has some loopholes and never gives complete explanation you wait the entire movie to see.Entertainment Value: 5* - This is a marginally entertaining film, but isn't very satisfying when it is all said and done. If I recommend it to someone, then I would likely be ruining my reputation on what is a watchable movie.My Score: 5+4.5+4.5+5 = 19/4 = 4.75 Email your thoughts to [email protected]

I thought that the acting was above average for a horror picture but there were very few tense moments in this, it could have been much more intense during the murder scenes then it was though it was done better then the typical slasher film. It was an interesting idea with a different kind of plot but there are no real surprises or twist to this movie which left me feeling just OK about this movie, there simply wasn't a wow factor or anything that makes this film stand out. the main actor is from "The Hurt Locker" and was very good as the bad guy. Overall an average movie, just not great since it really wasn't creepy or scary in anyway.

There is absolutely nothing of value in this movie. First of all, forget about the tension or suspense or mystery - because there is none of that. The plot is so hollow that you could seriously not care less what happens next - except looking forward to the end credits. For an R-rated film about sex and murder both of those things are suspiciously missing. Sure people are killed, but they are killed with cutaway shots and splashes of raspberry jam against the wall or window. And the "sex" scenes make old episodes of The Love Boat look x-rated. I guess it was writer Andrew Paquin's sister who got him the chance to make this horrid screenplay into a movie. And if she bankrolled it too, then it's probably his last. Well, it's probably is last anyway.I can usually even enjoy watching bad movies... but not this one.